Ski



Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES,

SKI John Boline, Minneapolis, Minn. Application April 13, 1934, Serial No. 720.388

3 Claims. (Cl. 208-184) This invention relates to skis. It is the general object of the invention to provide skis of novel and improved design, which can be effectively used for supporting a person while traveling over snow.

To this end, generally stated, the invention consists in the novel parts and novel combinations of parts hereinafter defined in the claims and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a ski embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sections of the ski shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and taken respectively on the lines 3--3, 4-4, 5-5, G-6, 'i-'l, 8-8, and 3-@ of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the line Ill-i0 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of another ski of slightly different type embodying the invention;

Fig. 12 is a. plan view of the ski illustrated in Fig. 11;

Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are transverse sections ofthe ski shown in Figs. 11, and 12, and taken respectively on the lines |3-|3, i i-4t,

12, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectiontaken on the line 20-29 of Fig. 12.

Referring first to the embodiment of themvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10: The ski A illustrated may be considered to include a fore section 2| running from the point 22 forwardly, a mid section 23 running from the point 22 to the point 24 and a rear section 25 running.

from the point 23 rearwardly. The ski is, of course, formed from a single piece of material, preferably wood, such as ash, hickory, pine or other strong, close grained, springy wood. The,

to the rear end and this rear end, although of somewhat less width than the broadest part of the fore section 2|, is of somewhat greater width than the central part of the mid section 23.

From the point 22 the fore section 2| curves gradually upwardly to the peak of the ski and from the point 22 to the rear end of the ski, the ski forms a natural arch, so that the major part of the ski forms a bow spring. To show the deviation of the under surface of the ski from a straight line when the ski is in its normal unloaded position, the straight line 26 has been drawn in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that the ski contacts this straight line only at the point 22 and at the extreme rear end or heel of the ski. It will be noted that except for the forward end of the ski, the ski deviates farthest from the line 26 at the point 21 and. accordingly the center of the spring formed by the ski is at this point.

A wide shallow groove 28 is formed in the under surface of the ski and this groove extends longitudinally from the fore section 2| to the rear end of the ski. The lower edge of the rear end of the ski is beveled preferably at approximately a 45 angle to the depth of the groove 28, thereby forming the beveled surface 29.

A longitudinal rib 30 runs from one end of the mid section of the ski to the other end of the mid section and this rib upstands from the remainder of the upper surface of the ski. The rib 30 gradually rises from the point 22 to reach its maximum height at the central part of the mid section 23 and there form a footing 3| for the foot of the wearer. From the footing 3| the rib 30 gradually tapers to the point 24. Except for the fore section 2| the thinnest parts of the ski are found at the points 22 and 24. The rear section 25, as best shown in Fig. 10, gradually thickens from the point 24 rearwardly, so that the rear end of the rear section is thicker than other parts of the rear section. As can be best seen from the sectional views; Figs. 3 to 9, the rib 30 is transversely centrally located relative to the edges of the ski and is quite narrow forward and rearward of the footing 3|. The rib widens out to form the footing 3|, but the footing is slightly narrower than what may be called the runner of the ski immediately below the same, and, accordingly, it may be said that the edges of the footing 3| have rabbeted surfaces 32. If desired, a slot 33 may be cut through the footing 3| foruse in attachment of certain types of foot harness or straps to the ski. It will, of course, be

appreciated that any type of harness may. be used with the ski and that when certain types are used the slot 33 is not required and may be eliminated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the under surface of the ski is provided with rabbets 34 joining the edges of the ski and extending longitudinally of the ski and received within these rabbets are steel strips 35 secured as by screws 36 to the ski proper. These screws are of course countersunk in the strips 35. The strips 35, when used, will protect the edges of the ski from being injured or torn as by rocks or other hard material when the ski is in use. It will of course be appreciated that the rabbets 34, strips 35 and screws 36 may be eliminated if desired.

Of course, the skis will be used in pairs and in constructing the skis a slight difference is made between the ski for the left foot and the ski for the right foot. Both the left and right hand skis are curved slightly so that they toe in a trifle, to permit of better control of these skis. This curvature, however, is so slight that it cannot be shown in the drawings but it will appear when the two skis of a pair are laid along side of each other,

7 of the footing 3| so that the center of balance of each ski is at the point 31, from which point the ski will be lifted by the wearer when the harness is correctly applied, during travel over the snow.

The purpose in gradually curving the fore section of the ski upwardly from the point 22 is to permit the ski to readily pass over obstacles and to glide over the snow readily without pushing snow ahead of the ski. The ski is made widest at approximately the point where the section line 33 intersects the ski in Fig. 2, for the reason that this is the part of the ski that advances into the snow first and this part of the ski forms a path which the remainder of the ski follows without digging into the snow. The ski is made narrow at the central part of the mid section in order to permit the ski to be readily steered by the foot of the user, within the track formed by the broadest part of the ski. The ski is widened slightly at its rear end to give the same greater stability than would otherwise be the case if not so widened. The arch is given to the mid portion of the ski to form the proper spring to assist the wearer in traveling over the snow and push .the skis ahead as a rear foot is moved forwardly.

The center point 21 of the spring is located as specified to assist in driving the foot forward as it is raised slightly. The central rib 30 gives great strength to the ski and at the same time it does not interfere with the spring action and, in fact,

- strengthens the spring action materially. The rib also prevents snow from accumulating on the ski. By thickening the rear section 25 of the ski, this rear section is given extra strength where needed to prevent the rear end from breakage or injury as jumps are made, or as uneven surfaces are traversed. The beveled surface 29 is provided at the rear end of the ski so as to cause a smooth track to be made in the snow for other skiers to follow as the ski glides over the snow. If the rear end of the ski was not beveled, the rear end of the ski would dig into the snow beyond the depth of the track each time that a step forward was made. Thewide groove 28 is provided to permit the ski to be readily steered and to prevent side slipping of the ski. The rabbets 32 are formed in the footing'3l to prevent the harness from projecting beyond the edges of the ski and interfere with proper travel. They are also provided so that the runner of the ski will present a sharp edge when the ski is lifted sidewardly as in climbing a hill. In other words, when in climbing a steep hill the skis are moved laterally to form steps in the snow, the sides of the footing 3| will not project so far as to prevent the runner below the footing 3| from slipping in the snow.

In constructing the ski, lumber is preferably chosen having a natural curvature corresponding to the arch given to the major part of the ski. There is then no tendency for the ski to lose its natural spring as is the case when the ski is shaped to form the arch as by steaming the same. Preferably pine tar" is burned into the bottom of the ski to harden the same and to form a surface which can be readily waxed prepparatory to use of the ski.

The ski illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, is adapted for general usage, both in cross country travel and in hill skiing. Illustrated in Figs. 11 to 20, is a, ski adapted particularly for fancy skiing as in mountain work where it is essential that the ski be quickly steered and under control at all times, as to dodge in and around trees and other obstructions. The ski B shown in Figs. 11 to 20, is of much the same construction as the ski shown in Figs. 1 to 10 with the exception that the ski B is shorter than the ski A to accommodate a man of the same size and the ski B at the broadest part of the fore section, namely at the point 31 is considerably broader than the broadest part of the ski A. From the point 31, the ski B tapers to the central part of the mid section of the ski and from the central part of the mid section to the rear end of the ski, the ski B is of approximately the same width throughout although it may be given a very slight taper to the rear end of the ski if desired. The construction specified permits the ski B to be steered or turned more readily than the ski A. The ski B is not provided with rabbets and metal strips corresponding to the rabbets 34 and strips 35 of the other ski illustrated, but it will of course be appreciated these may be provided if desired. Also the ski B at its footing portion is not provided with a strap slot such, as the slot 33, shown in the ski A, but it will be understood that such a strap opening may be used in the ski B if it is desired to use harness requiring the use of such a slot.

Jumping skis for sport use by ski jumpers embodying the invention may also be provided. These jumping skis will be much on the same order as the ski A, as shown and described but of considerably greater length. The metal strips 35 will not be used on the jumping skis.

Skis embodying the present invention have been used and. have been found to be effective in use for the purposes intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski having an upwardly curved fore section, a normally upwardly bowed mid section extending from the foresection rearwardly and a. rear section joining the mid section, said rear section tapering from the rear end of the ski from a. thickness considerably greater than the rear end of the mid section into the rear end of said mid section, there being a. groove formed in the bottom of the ski and extending longitudinally thereof and the lower edge of the rear end of the ski being beveled at least to the depth 10 of the said groove.

'2. A ski having a longitudinal groove formed in its under surface and having the lower edge of its rear end beveled to the depth oi said groove.

3. A ski having a rear end portion of greater thickness than the portion 0! the ski immediately forward of the same, said ski having a longitudinal groove formed in its under surface and having the lower edge of the rear end of the ski beveled to the depth of said groove.

JOHN BOLINE. 

